The best way to get revenge on a coworker is to be your best self at work. Disregard the vengeful feeling or the desire for acts of revenge, because that will only lead to a lose-lose situation. As the saying goes, the best revenge is no revenge, and seeking revenge on a coworker will merely distract you from your own work. Focusing on something that brings about negative energy is dangerous because that energy will seep into other areas of your life, and you will end up suffering more in the long run.
I am no condoning "revenge" in the workplace, but sometimes a workplace rivalry can be a good thing. If there are deep rooted issues between employees I think they should always try to work the matters out themselves. If it is a large issue, they need to get their manager involved before something drastic happens. But if it's simply an issue of not liking a coworker, the best way to "get revenge" is to be better! In my experience it has worked for me to be better than them at the job. Put all your effort into being the best employee you can be and be humble. Your leadership team will notice very quickly which employees are standing out for the right reasons.
Sources of motivation are good. Sources of resentment are not. Don’t let a co-worker’s snarky attitude or superiority complex get in the way of you achieving your goals. The best revenge is simply to attain the level of success that your critics covet. Maybe someone along the way told you that you don’t have what it takes to make it. In that case, prove them wrong. Bad-mouthing that person or holding grudges is not the answer. That's bad revenge. Focusing on your achievement and not copying their ugly behavior is the best way forward.
The best revenge is success. In my opinion, the best way to get revenge is to not focus on revenge. Vengeful people tend to not be very happy people. If a coworker sends you an annoying email, take a moment to compose yourself rather than coming up with a witty comeback. Then, take the high road and keep your correspondence mature. You will shine when you focus on doing your best work rather than spending time focusing on getting revenge on your teammates.
Eating a coworker’s lunch—revenge so petty that it is cruel. When hunger strikes, it is glaring, unforgiving, and unrelenting—this is especially true while at work amidst the grind of busy and sometimes stressful days. Deliberately consuming someone else’s lunch as your own is foul and borderline evil; it is an act of complete disdain and disrespect. This is the best way get revenge on a coworker. Revenge as a dish literally served cold (or hot).
Unflattering rumors can spread like wildfire at the workplace. Many times, a mere rumor is all it takes to tamper with a coworker’s reputation. A damaged reputation can affect relationships with peers and stop any hopes for promotions and/or more responsibility. Additionally, some rumors are harsh enough to brand someone as untrustworthy or simply not pleasant to be around—this is especially damaging to work that frequently involves teamwork. For all of the aforementioned reasons and more, spreading an unflattering rumor is one of the best ways to get revenge on a coworker.
Being the better man at the workplace by ignoring the coworker's mistake and being more kind to them is the best revenge you can give to a coworker since you will be more at peace, unlike when holding a grudge. Planning an act of bad revenge makes you even more bitter with a coworker and makes the problem bigger instead of solving it. The main goal of the coworker inflicting pain on you is to get your reaction; not reacting at all makes them feel ashamed of themselves, unlike trying to trigger them. Also, asking yourself the biggest question of the benefits you will earn by revenging and trying to come up with solutions gives you no reason to be vengeful, and you tend to focus on being better at work.